A conference aiming to shed light on China's role in the Pacific has opened in Samoa.
RNZI reporter Johnny Blades interviewing Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi Photo: Govt of Samoa
The conference 'China and the Pacific; a view from Oceania' was opened by the prime minister, Tuilapea Sailele Malielegaoi, at the National University of Samoa.
Johnny Blades reports from Apia.
"In his opening remarks, Tuilaepa hoped the conference would be useful in countering the sometimes alarmist media discourse about China's role in the Pacific. Echoing this, China's ambassador to Samoa Li Yanduan welcomed the fact that Chinese are well represented among the academics, analysts and diplomats making up the bulk of the conference's participants. To date the Chinese voice on the hot issue of China's presence in the Pacific has not been heard enough. The three-day meeting is expected to provide an in-depth examination of the geopolitical dynamic shaping diplomacy and development in the Pacific in the coming decade."
Participants gather at the opening of the China and the Pacific conference at the National University of Samoa Photo: Govt of Samoa
